Before Peters was removed, the state's watchdog agency for judges -- the Judicial Qualifications Commission -- investigated 13 counts of judicial misconduct filed against Peters, who was appointed magistrate in 1997. The charges stemmed from incidents between 2008 and 2010.

At the time, Peters also filed a complaint against Caldwell, accusing his boss of misusing county time and questioning his use of campaign funds, but the commission dismissed the allegations in December.

Gass said he will look at specific ways to change policies, and his first action will be to hire a third magistrate within the next month.

Before Peters was suspended in 2010, the office had four judges. Gass said the County Commission asked if he could conduct court with only three judges for the next fiscal year, which began in October.

If the court can't manage with three judges, the budget will be amended to include a fourth position, Gass said.

"It's just to help the county out," he said.

Gass, who will hold the chief magistrate position until Dec. 31, 2012, said he will run for the job in next year's elections.

Before his appointment as a magistrate, Gass worked for the Ringgold Police Department for eight years and spent 13 years with the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office.